Folding chair



A. F. DRAPER 2,139,673

Dec, 13; 1938.

FOLDING CHAIR Origihal Filed Feb. 6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l a w w I I v lNVENT OR,

ATTO RN EYS Dec. 13, 1938. A. F. pRAPER 2,139,673

FOLDING CHAIR 1 Original Filed Feb. 6, 1935 l3 SheetsSheer; 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STA'ikEti mam FATENT OFFIQE Application February 6 Claims.

The present invention pertains to chairs, and more particularly to chairs of the collapsible type adapted to be folded to occupy a minimum amount of space when they are not in use.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding chair which will occupy an exceptionally small amount of space when folded, the chair being comprised of parts providing for stability and mechanical strength and being arranged and assembled whereby they may be readily moved from their extended position to their folded position or the reverse. In combination with a chair of this type it is another aim of the invention to provide a simple and efiicient means for holding the parts in their folded position so that the chair may be quite easily carried about.

It is another object of the present invention to provide, in combination with a folding chair, means which automatically functions, as a result of movement of the collapsible parts from their folded position to their extended position, to hold the parts in their extended position, the holding means being designed to prevent the accidental release thereof and yet to require but 'a simple manual operation in order to release the same to permit folding of the chair.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the parts of the folding chair may be adjusted to compensate for wear resulting from use in order that the looseness resulting from such wear may not reduce the stability of the chair.

With the above and other ends in view the invention is more fully disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective View of the chair in its extended position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a detail;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the chair in its folded position;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation taken at right angle to Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of a detail;

Figs. 7 and 8 are cross sections taken on lines 7'! and 8-8 respectively of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a plan of a detail;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the chair partially collapsed;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a modification;

Fig. 12 is a cross section of a part of the chair shown in Fig. 11, and

6, 1935, Serial No. 5,232

Renewed March 7, 1938 Figs. 13 and 14 are cross sections taken respectively on line l3-|3 and l4|4 of Fig. 11.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

The seat part of the present chair comprises a marginal frame formed of wire or rods. Each side of the marginal frame is formed of two parts I and 2 which are looped together intermediate their ends as designated at 3. Straps 4 extend from side to side of the seat frame and are interwoven as illustrated in Fig. 1 to complete the seat. At the four corners of the seat the free ends of the wire members I and 2 are each pivotally united with the upper end of an arm 5, the chair structure thus having four arms 5 attached to the seat with one of such arms disposed at each corner of the seat frame. The lower end of each arm 5 is pivotally attached, by means of a pin 6 to a bracket 1 which is common to all of the arms.

Four legs are provided, the legs being designated in pairs by numerals 8 and 9, and each leg having a ground engaging flat foot Ill. The upper ends of each of the legs 8 and 9 are mounted on one of the pins 6 which are employed to pivotally attach the arms 5 to the bracket 1, and the legs 8 and 9 are thus pivotally secured to the bracket 1 with one adjacent to each arm. The arms 5 are preferably formed of I-beam cross section and the legs 8 and 9 are formed of channel irons proportioned so that the arms may move into and out of the channels, as will hereinafter appear. On each leg 8 is connected a pair of wire elements I I with each extending toward one of the legs 9. The adjacent free ends of the wires II, extending from opposite legs 8, are connected to a latch element l2 having a retainer part 14 adapted to receive the ends of a pin l3 in its respective leg 9. When the pin l3 extends into the part I4 the latch element I2 is retained against sliding movement relative to the leg 9 and the legs 8 and 9 are thus tied together. The latch element I2 may be rocked by manual pressure to move the retainer part l4 out of engagement with the pin l3 so as to permit sliding movement of the latch element relative to the leg 9, at which time the legs 8 and 9 may be relatively pivoted.

The upper end of each arm 5 is connected to the leg 8 or 9 which is pivoted on the same pin 6 by an articulated tie member 15, the connection of each tie member to its respective leg and arm being in each case pivotal. When the latch elements l2 have their retainers l3 disposed in the notches 14 they cooperate with the Wire elements I l in holding the legs 8 and 9 in the extended po- S mon. shown in Fig. 1 by tying the four legs together so as to prevent further spreading movement thereof. The tie members l5 serve to tie the seat frame, arms and legs together to prevent pivotal movement of the legs in a direction opposite to that prevented by the wires H and latch elements !2. With the legs and arms held in the position described they hold the seat frame members I and 2 in an extended position and the chair is in condition for use.

Secured to the point where the two central strap members 4 intersect is a flexible cord l6 which extends downwardly and through an aperture IT in a socket I 8 formed in the center of the bracket 1. On the free end of the cord I6 is secured a cap I9 and in the socket I8 is mounted a coiled spring 20.

When it is desired to fold the chair from the position shown in Fig. 1, through the position shown in Fig. 10, to the position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the latch elements I2 are rocked manually to withdraw the retainers M from engagement with the pins l3. The legs 8 and 9 are then pointed upwardly, relative to the showing in Fig. 1, and the articulated tie members l5 fold and are received between their respective legs and arms, there being a space provided between the legs and arms due to the fact that the legs are constructed of channel irons and the arms being I shaped in cross section. As illustrated in Fig. '7 each arm 5 is received in the leg, 8 or 9 as the case may be, which is pivoted to the bracket '1 on the same pin 6 as the particular arm and by drawing downwardly on the cord l6 at the same time the legs are swung upwardly the upper ends of the arms 5 will be drawn inwardly and the legs and arms may be swung to assume the position illustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 wherein the strap members 4 are concealed within the same. At this time the several feet IE will be in contact, one with another, and the cap i9 is slipped over the same. Each foot ID has an aperture 2| and the cap 19 has a series of spring fingers 22 received in the apertures. In order to permit the cap to be placed as above described the strap members 4 are drawn against the spring 20 by the cord IE to compress the spring so that resilient pressure is constantly exerted on the cord IE tending to draw the cap l9 into tight engagement with the feet l0.

To again extend the parts of the chair the cap i9 is removed and the legs 8 and 9 and arms 5 are swung outwardly on the bracket 1. As the legs are pivoted outwardly the latch elements l2 will slide down the legs 9 and the retainers !3 will enter the notches M to hold the legs as above described.

It is apparent that the stability of the chair as above described is governed by the wires H with their latch elements l2 and by the tie members l5 and that any looseness in these elements would destroy the stability. In order to provide for adjustment to eliminate looseness resulting from wear an adjustable device is provided and is illustrated by way of modification in Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive. In this modification the seat la is mounted on the upper end of four arms 50., the lower end of each arm being pivotally attached to a bracket la. The bracket Ia has a projecting pilot 23 slidably received in a bracket 24 and the four supporting legs la and la have their upper ends pivotally attached to the bracket 24. A set screw 25 is rotatably mounted in the bracket 24 and is screwthreaded into the pilot 23 so that by rotating the set screw the brackets 1a and 24 may be moved relative to one another. Wires Ila are attached to the legs 8a and are united in pairs by cross members 26, as shown in Fig. 14, and the cross members 26 are received in notches Ma in the legs 9a. Articulated tie members l5a extend from the upper ends of the arms 5a to the lower ends of the adjacent legs 8a and 9a, the wires H0. and tie members l5a serving to hold the legs and arms against pivotal movement. By rotating the set screw 25 so as to move the brackets 1a and 24 apart the wires Ila and tie members |5a may be placed under tension.

With the exception of the adjustable feature the modified embodiment is the same as the first described form and the folding operation is identical. Therefore reference may be had to the description of the first described form for an understanding of the modified form.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described it will be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

1. In a folding chair, a supporting structure composed of a plurality of arms and legs, said arms and legs being pivotally connected in sets with each set having an interfitting cross sectional configuration in opposed relation whereby the arm and leg of each set may be relatively nested by folding one within the other, the plurality of arms and legs being relatively disposed whereby the sets thereof when folded provide a hollow housing, a collapsible seat attached to extremities of said arms, releasable means for holding said arms and legs in unfolded position with said seat extended, feet attached to extremities of said legs, means for drawing said seat within said housing when said arms and legs are folded, a retainer connected to said drawin means and adapted to engage said feet, and yieldable means adapted to be engaged by said seat when folded to pull said drawing means for holding said retainer in engagement with said feet.

2. In a folding chair, a central bracket composed of relatively movable upper and lower parts, a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said upper part, a plurality of legs pivotally attached to said lower part, said arms and legs being arranged in sets and being adapted to swing on their pivots to a folding position, a collapsible seat attached to the extremities of said arms, releasable means for holding said arms and legs against swinging movement with respect to their pivots including tie members connecting the extremities of the arms and legs of respective sets, and manual means for moving said bracket parts relatively to adjust said arms and legs relatively whereby to cause and regulate the tension on said releasable means.

3. In a folding chair, a central bracket composed of relatively movable upper and lower parts, a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said upper part, a plurality of legs pivotally attached to said lower part, said arms and legs being arranged in sets and being adapted to swing on their pivots to a folding position, a collapsible seat attached to the extremities of said arms, releasable means for holding said arms and legs against swinging movement with respect to their pivots including tie members connecting the extremities of the arms and legs of respective sets, manual means for moving said bracket parts relatively to adjust said arms and legs relatively whereby to regulate the tension on said releasable means, feet on the extremities of said legs, said feet being adapted to provide a formation adapted for the reception of a retainer when said arms and legs are in their folded position, a retainer adapted to engage said formation, a draw cord having opposite ends connected to said retainer and seat, and resilient means supported by said bracket and adapted to be engaged by said seat for exerting pressure on said draw cord to maintain said retainer in engagement with said formation.

4. In a folding chair, a central bracket composed of relatively movable upper and lower parts, a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said upper part, a plurality of legs pivotally attaohed to said lower part, said arms and legs being arranged in sets and being adapted to swing on their pivots to a folding position, a collapsible seat attached to the extremities of said arms, releasable means for holding said arms and legs against swinging movement with respect to their pivots including tie members connecting the extremities of the arms and legs of respective sets, manual means for moving said bracket parts relatively to adjust said arms and legs relative whereby to regulate the tension on said releasable means, feet on the extremities of said legs, said feet being adapted to provide a formation adapted for the reception of a retainer when. said arms and legs are in their folded position, a retainer adapted to engage said formation, a draw cord connected to said retainer, said draw cord being connected to said seat, and yieldable means supported by said bracket whereby it is engaged by said seat when folded to pull said draw cord for holding said retainer in engagement with said feet.

5. In a folding chair, a central bracket, a plurality of arms pivotally attached to said bracket, a plurality of legs pivotally attached to said bracket, said arms and legs being adapted to swing on their pivots to a folded position, a collapsible seat attached to the extremities of said arms, releasable means for holding said arms and legs in unfolded position with said seat extended, feet mounted on the extremities of said legs, a draw cord connected to said seat and extending through said bracket, a retainer connected to said draw cord and adapted to engage said feet to hold said arms in a folded position, and resilient means on said bracket adapted to be engaged by said seat when folded to pull said draw cord for holding said retainer in engagement with said feet.

6. In a folding chair, a central bracket, a plurality of arms and a plurality of legs pivotally attached to said bracket in sets, said bracket having movable means for holding the pivots of the arm and leg of each set spaced apart, said arms and legs having interfitting cross sectional configuration in opposed relation whereby the parts of each set thereof may be relatively nested by relative swinging movement on their pivots, said cross sectional configuration providing a space between the arm and leg of each set when nested and to form a hollow housing when the plurality of arms and legs are folded, a collapsible seat attached to extremities of said arms, means for drawing said seat into said housing as the plurality of sets of arms and legs are moved to their folded position, releasable means for holding said arms and legs against relative movement, including articulated tie members connecting the arms and legs of said sets individually, said tie members being adapted to fold into the space between their respective arms and legs when the latter are nested, and manually movable means for adjusting the spaced relationship between the movable pivot supporting means of said arms and legs to place said holding means under tension.

ARTHUR F. DRAPER. 

